Abstract

New Ferry Wharf is a major fish landing centre in Greater Bombay where fishing activity generally resumes in September after a period of lull during the southwest monsoon. This centre accounted for an annual (July-June) average of 7,530 tonnes of penaeid prawns of which Parapenaeopsis stylifera constituted 59.6%. The size (total length) of P. stylifera ranged from 58 to 103 mm for males and from 63 to 118 mm for females with the modal size at 83 mm and 103 mm for the respective sexes. The incidence of such huge catch all along the coast at about the same time was probably triggered by some oceanographic factors such as large scale upwelling of oxygen minimum layer which might have pushed the stock towards the shore.